This etext was produced by John Mamoun <mamounjo@umdnj.edu> with the Online Distributed Proofreading Team of Charles Franks. An Introduction to Chemical Science by R.P. Williams, A.M., CONTENTS PREFACE, BY R.P. WILLIAMS TABLE OF CONTENTS AN INTRODUCTION TO CHEMICAL SCIENCE APPENDIX TEXTBOOK ADVERTISEMENTS THAT APPEARED IN THE ORIGINAL EDITION INFO ABOUT THIS E-TEXT EDITION PREFACE, BY R.P. WILLIAMS The object held constantly in view in writing this book has been to prepare a suitable text-book in Chemistry for the average High School,--one that shall be simple, practical, experimental, and inductive, rather than a cyclopaedia of chemical information. For the accomplishment of this purpose the author has endeavored to omit superfluous matter, and give only the most useful and interesting experiments, facts and theories. In calling attention, by questions, and otherwise, to the more important phenomena to be observed and facts to be learned, the best features of the inductive system have been utilized. Especially is the writing of equations, which constitute the multum in parvo of chemical knowledge, insisted upon. As soon as the pupil has become imbued with the spirit and meaning of chemical equations, he need have little fear of failing to understand the rest. To this end Chapters IX., XI., and XVI. should be studied with great care. In the early stages of the work the equations may with advantage be memorized, but this can soon be discontinued. Whenever symbols are employed, pupils should be required to give the corresponding chemical names, or, better, both names and symbols. The classification of chemical substances into acids, bases and salts, and the distinctions and analogies between each of these classes, have been brought into especial prominence. The general relationship between the three classes, and the general principles prevailing in the preparation of each, must be fully understood before aught but the merest smattering of chemical science can be known. Chapters XV.-XXI. should be mastered as a key to the subsequent parts of the book. The mathematical and theoretical parts of Chemistry it has been thought best to intersperse throughout the book, placing each where it seemed to be especially needed; in this way, it is hoped that the tedium which pupils find in studying consecutively many chapters of theories will be avoided, and that the arrangement will give an occasional change from the discussion of facts and experiments to that of principles. In these chapters additional questions should be given, and the pupil should be particularly encouraged to make new problems of his own, and to solve theta.